Cape Soya

Japanese: 宗谷岬 - そうやみさき

A cape at the northern tip of Hokkaido, belonging to Wakkanai City. It embraces Soya Bay between Cape Noshappu to the west. Located at 45°31' north latitude and 141°56' east longitude, it is the northernmost point of Japan. At the tip of the Soya Hills, a clear coastal terrace has developed at an altitude of 30 meters, and the Cape Soya Lighthouse (lighted in 1885, 17 meters high) on the terrace is equipped with a fog signal station and a radio directional signal station. In addition to the monument marking the "northernmost point of Japan," there are many other monuments, including a "prayer tower" commemorating the Korean Air Lines shooting down incident and a war memorial. The coast is lined with rocky shores with small islands such as Bentenjima, and National Route 238 runs along the coast, making it a popular tourist destination in the summer.

[Jiro Okamoto]

[Reference] | Soya Hills

Monument at the northernmost point of Japan
A monument marking the northernmost point of Japan, at 45 degrees 31 minutes north latitude, at the tip of Cape Soya. It was erected in 1961 and took on its current form in 1968. It is easily accessible and attracts many tourists in the summer. Wakkanai City, Hokkaido ©Wakkanai City ">

Monument at the northernmost point of Japan

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

北海道北端の岬で、稚内市(わっかないし)に属す。西の野寒布岬(のしゃっぷみさき)との間に宗谷湾を抱く。北緯45度31分、東経141度56分に位置し日本の国土の最北点にあたる。宗谷丘陵の先端部で、標高30メートルの明瞭(めいりょう)な海岸段丘が発達し、段丘上の宗谷岬灯台（1885年点灯、高さ17メートル）には霧信号所、無線方向信号局が併置されている。「日本最北端の地」の碑が立つほか、大韓航空機撃墜事件慰霊の「祈りの塔」や戦没者慰霊碑など多くの碑が立っている。海岸には弁天島などの小島がある磯(いそ)が広がり、海沿いを国道238号が走り、夏季は観光地としてにぎわう。

［岡本次郎］

[参照項目] | 宗谷丘陵

日本最北端の地の碑

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例

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